The first demonstration that a subset of women with hyperemesis gravidarum has abnormalities in the vestibuloocular reflex pathway.
OBJECTIVE
The vestibular system is a major pathway to nausea and vomiting, and the vestibuloocular reflex (VOR) is a central component; its function can be studied using the vestibular autorotation test (VAT). We hypothesize that women with hyperemesis gravidarum (HG) may have VOR abnormalities.


METHODS
Women with HG were compared with women without HG using the VAT. Horizontal and vertical VOR gains and phases were evaluated at 3 frequency ranges: low (2.0 to 3.5 Hz), medium (greater than 3.5 to 5.0 Hz), and high (greater than 5.0 to 6.0 Hz) during pregnancy and postpartum.


RESULTS
Twenty women with HG and 48 unaffected women were evaluated in early pregnancy. Women with HG had higher horizontal gains at all 3 frequency ranges. Horizontal phase differences were also observed at medium frequencies. No VAT differences were noted postpartum.


CONCLUSIONS
Women experiencing HG had a higher mean VOR horizontal gain and lower horizontal phase when compared with unaffected women.
Goodwin
Thomas Murphy
TM
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Southern California Keck School of Medicine, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
Nwankwo
Odinaka A
OA
O'Leary
Linda Davis
LD
O'Leary
Dennis
D
Romero
Roberto
R
Korst
Lisa M
LM
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006939:Hyperemesis Gravidarum / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D012027:Reflex, Vestibulo-Ocular / Q000502:physiology; D014724:Vestibular Function Tests